Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the death of 31-year-old singer Liam Payne on October 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The local prosecutor’s office revealed on Thursday that the investigation into the former One Direction member’s fall from a hotel balcony has led to three suspects being charged with “abandonment of a person after death, supply, and facilitation of narcotics.”

Prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea, who oversees the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office in Argentina, stated that one suspect was someone who reportedly accompanied Payne during his stay in Buenos Aires. This person is facing charges of “abandonment of a person followed by death,” which could result in a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

The second suspect is a hotel worker accused of providing Payne with cocaine on two occasions during his stay, while the third suspect is alleged to have supplied drugs to the singer two days before his death. Both of these individuals are facing charges related to drug supply.

After a thorough investigation lasting over two weeks, which included raids, cell phone examinations, and toxicology tests, Payne’s body was released to his father, Geoff Payne, who traveled to Argentina following his son’s passing.

Payne’s toxicology report reveals alcohol, cocaine, and antidepressants; foul play excluded

According to the prosecutor’s office, Payne checked into the Casa Sur hotel on October 13. Investigators believe he received at least four deliveries of narcotics in the days leading up to his death.

The injuries that Payne sustained were consistent with a fall from a third-floor balcony, per Madrea’s findings, and they have excluded foul play. Tests showed that Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system within 72 hours prior to his death.

Authorities believe that at the time of his fall, Payne may have been partially or completely unconscious, ruling out the possibility that it was a deliberate act.

The statement released by the prosecutor’s office noted, “From the onset of the investigation, extensive and thorough efforts were made to clarify the factors surrounding the artist’s death,” which included dozens of testimonies from hotel staff, family, friends, medical experts, biochemists, and psychiatrists.

The office also conducted a meticulous review of over 800 hours of security camera footage from the hotel and nearby public areas.

As part of the investigation into the events leading to Payne’s death, Argentinian officials examined the contents of his cell phone, analyzing his calls, texts, and conversations from messaging and social media platforms.

Liam Payne had been sober for six months during his final YouTube update

In recent years, Payne openly discussed his addiction and mental health challenges that he faced during the height of One Direction’s popularity.

In a video posted in July 2023, which was his last vlog, Payne shared that he had spent nearly 100 days in a “wonderful place” in Louisiana to “clear his mind.” He also mentioned at that time that he hadn’t consumed any alcohol for almost six months.

“I needed to leave to get better,” he reflected. “It reached a point where it was a scramble to remain relevant.”

Payne rose to international fame as a member of the now-disbanded pop band One Direction, which originated from the U.K. talent show “The X-Factor” in 2010. The group included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.

Their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” became a global success, and after producing five albums in five years, the band took an indefinite break in 2016 following their fifth album, “Made in the A.M.”

All the members, including Malik who departed from the group in March 2015, pursued individual careers after their break.

Following the group’s break, Payne had a string of successful singles and released his debut solo album, “LP1,” in December 2019. His 2017 collaboration with Quavo, “Strip That Down,” made it into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Additional hits included “For You,” a duet with Rita Ora featured on the “Fifty Shades Freed” soundtrack, and “Get Low,” a collaboration with Zedd.

His last release, a single called “Teardrops,” included lyrics expressing feelings of being “broken” after a heartbreak. Recently, music producer Sam Pounds announced that a song featuring Payne, titled “Do No Wrong,” would be released posthumously. However, shortly after, Pounds decided to delay its release to give Payne’s family time to grieve.

Payne is survived by his child Bear, who is 7 years old and was born to him and British singer Cheryl Cole; his parents, Karen and Geoff Payne; and his sisters, Ruth Gibbins and Nicola Payne.

(This story has been updated to include new information.)

If you or someone you know is facing challenges with substance use, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This service is free, confidential, and available in both English and Spanish.